Where Exactly Was That Pitch?

Random Thoughts on Calling Pitch Location

The catcher asked a simple question, "Where was that pitch?" but the umpire's response was anything but accurate, "It was high." The breaking ball had just traced through the zone slightly above the batter's knee. The umpire had no clue of where the pitch was, he simply called it a "ball". Later the same umpire got defensive when the batter asked, "Was that on the outside corner?" after the umpire called a strike.

If an umpire had to justify every call we might all be better umpires. If we could not simply say "Strike" but had to give the exact location of the pitch, and perhaps the type of pitch. Imagine of how much information the umpire would have to absorb as the ball approached the plate. Think of the level of concentration that would be required if you had to give a clear explanation of where each pitch was, and why you called it a ball.

As I watch professional umpires you regularly hear so of them giving keys as to the location of pitches. It is no longer "Ball" but often it is "Outside" or "Ball One - Inside". Some use body language but for many, every marginal pitch is qualified in one form or another.

The point I am making here is not that we should be justifying our calls down to tiny details, but that we should be able to. We have to absorb and be able to verbalize everything about every pitch.

Maintaining a consistent strike zone, from pitch-to-pitch, requires that level of concentration. There should be no reason why a plate umpire should not be able to describe in minute detail the exact location of the pitch that just went through the strike zone, or failed to go through the strike zone.

If you cannot accurately give the exact location of the pitch at the plate, what are you calling?

Saying "Ball One ... Outside" or "Ball Two ... Low" is not easy. It demands concentration, focus and a conscientious effort to watch the entire path of every pitch. Whether it should be done is a question for you, your instructors or your associaiton. Whether you should be able to do it, is a moot point: If you can't do it, what are you looking at?

I leave you with this thought ... in a recent youth league game the umpire called the batter out for being out of the box when he made contact with the pitch. The pitch was high in the strike zone, and the batter's chopped swing sent the ball foul down the first baseline. If that umpire truly saw the feet of the batter at the exact moment of contact, especially with the detail and timing needed to enforce that rule infraction, do you really think he knew where the ball was?

That single call spoke volumes. You see what you are looking at.

... in my personal opinion only

The opinions expressed above are solely those of the author and do not reflect the policy, practice, teaching or instruction of any individual, organization, association or group.